BryanZ

What happened? I just read through this whole thread in one sitting and now feel empty and unfulfulled. No more restaurants?

I realize to expect NYC quality in the Triangle is fooling myself, but, then again, I never really expected something like that. I do find it insulting, however, that I cannot get decent Thai, Japanese, or Chinese food within 20 minutes of Duke (Most of the Triangle except for really getting into Raleigh). Futhermore, I haven't even discovered restaurants serving traditional cuisines, French, Italian, Continental, that are up to the standards I've come to expect from a mid-to-upper level restaurant (I'm not talking NYT 3-4 stars here, just good, slightly creative food). I will continue to explore and research and spend more money than I have in pursuit of truly understanding the restaurant scene in this area. I know I'm a food snob but don't hate me for it :-\. That being said, I've enjoyed Magnolia, Fairview, and Elaine's but they were not "special" to me. The flavors were fine but there was little done to excite or push me. I got close to enlightenment with Magnolia though, with a foie gras served with a mini peach bread pudding (I think) and the grits soufle.

Is the reunion weekend this weekend? I've noticed the grounds people setting up a lot of tents and the like on the main quad.

Moderator's Note: This discussion was split off from this discussion about the best restaurant in the Triangle (NC). I've found the overall dining scene in the Triangle to leave a lot to be desired. I'm just a student at Duke but have probably spent more hours researching the restaurant scene here than actually doing my school work. That being said, I've had some good experiences in the Triangle, but, generally speaking, compared to NY/NJ I'm disappointed.

It depends on the quality of the sides. If they're as good as you claim and really can stand alone then I'd say option A. If, however, the sides are not up to the quality of the main focus of the dish (like most mid-level steak houses) then I'd certainly prefer option B and spend some more money on good sides I can choose from or perhaps an appetizer.

As Soba said, the gnocchi, foie, and mushrooms are sooo nice, simple, and fulfilling. I also enjoyed the sweetbreads and lamb shank when I went. All said, I think we spent about 120ish or a bit less for 2 w/o wine. Expensive, but not overly so. Craft is a pretty unique dining experience.

This Mr. Sushi place sounds interesting. Do they serve only sushi or do they have other foods too? How does it compare to Minado's? Thanks for any information! ← They have other foods, too. In general though, I only go there for their all you can eat sushi when I'm really hungry and really bored. That said, although there is better sushi to be had, it can't be beat for the price. I'd say the quality is around a 5 (1-merely edible, think upscale supermarket, and 10-the best of NYC/above average in Tokyo). As for Minado's, I've never been. My favorite sushi that's close to me is Ajian in Somerset county, but then again we've been going there for years and we know the owners quite well so we might be biased.

A couple of things. First, welcome to the club. Although I may not necessarily agree with the "roll" trend in sushi, it's not a terrible place to start. As for mild fish, stick to staples like tuna (maguro), yellow tail (hamachi), and red snapper (tai). More importantly, however, make sure you're going to a credible place that will serve you good fish. If not, no matter what you eat, it'll probably suck. As for Lincoln Park area sushi, I am quite familiar with Mr. Sushi. Nothing could be further from authentic, yet I must say it can't be beat for the value. When I go there it's usually for quantity over quality but it is more than edible. As for their rolls, they do list what's inside them if you ask for the "special roll" menu. They've got a pretty decent spider roll (softshell crab) and tempura roll that might be right up your alley. And you can have all that for the low price of about 22 dollars, all you can eat.

It's been up on the Ryland Inn site for a while now. As has be stated, details are pretty scarce to the best of my knowledge. Like many northern central Jersey diners I'm very excited about the possibility of attending this event. Will it be Trotter's interpretations of Shelton's dishes, stuff from Chicago, or maybe a preview of the project in NY. Quite exciting.

If any NYC restaurant can, in any way, replicate the feeling or vibe of a traditional ryokan in Kyoto that is an accomplishment in itself.

Southern Season is worth at least a couple trips and the food at the Weathervane isn't bad. Also check out restaurant Starlu for some good moderately priced food. On the whole the food in Durham and the Triangle in general leaves something to be desired. Bullocks is good for basic BBQ but I'm not sure if that's up your alley.

Thanks for those pics. I can't wait till I'm back home this summer and will be able to partake in the experience that is Per Se

First off let me say that Beach House was terrible for me. The food was passable but we had a very bad experience with the wait staff and management that had my party leaving very upset and unsatisfied. I also didn't like how people outside congregate right in front of our windows as we were eating and trying to watch the sunset. Pacific Cafe was quite good, but the location leaves something to be desired. Conversely, Cafe Hanalei has one of the world's most beautiful views but food cannot match the beautiful surroundings. All in all though, that was my most memorable meal because of the views. In general, dining in Hawai'i and on nearly any island anywhere is going to be more low key than dining in a major city like New York. Still, I would've liked to see more "polish" in the restaurants in general.

I'm going to defend Ling Ling and say it's the best and most elegant Chinese around (although that's not saying that much). Service can be spotty but the flavors are clean and not bogged down like too many American-Chinese restaurants. And yes, Thai Thai, albeit the fact that it's not Chinese, is quite good. Portions aren't huge but it's the kind of place where you can order a lot, share plates, and not spend that much. Tell them it's your birthday, you'll enjoy it.

I also frequently cook from Ripert's book and have found it to be superb. In addition, my visit to Le Bernardin is arguably my most memorable seafood meal. Michael Mina in Las Vegas was also quite good as well, however.